Thoughts following ALDS Game Two

A split in Baltimore for the first two games of the ALDS wasn’t ideal, but it’s far from the worst case scenario. The final three games of the series will be played in Yankee Stadium, which I consider advantage Yankees even though the Orioles won six of nine there this season. We’ve been through this “Team A did this against Team B in the regular season and therefore have the advantage in a playoff series” dance how many times in the last few years now?

1. The ALDS is now a best-of-three and it’s great that all three games will be in the Bronx, but the playoff schedule this year is such a mess. If this series happens to go five games, the winner will have to use their fifth starter in the ALCS because Games One and Two of that series immediately follow Game Five of this one. How ridiculous is that? Finish with the best record in the league and that’s the reward? The new playoff system was rushed into place this year and the schedule is a nightmare. I wish they would have just waited until the Astros moved to AL next season and made all the changes at once. I guess the teams and the league stood to make too much money by implementing it this year, half-assed or not.

2. As our Bullpen Workload page shows, pretty much every reliever on the ALDS roster other than David Robertson will have had a full week of rest going into Game Three. That’s a good thing because for a long time those guys were really getting worked hard, but a full week off is entering the danger zone of being rusty (poor location) when they finally do get into a game. They’ll need all the rest they can get because playing five games in the next five days is a very real possibility, but there was so much time off between the end of the regular season and the start of the ALDS that these guys might need an inning or two to regain their feel.

3. While on the bullpen subject, you ready for a weird stat? The Yankees haven’t had a save opportunity in the playoffs since Game One of the 2010 ALCS. They won Game Five of that series in a blowout, won Games One and Four of the 2011 ALDS in blowouts, and won Game One of this series in a blowout. Twelve games since their last postseason save chance. Weird.

4. What the hell happened to the routine play? Derek Jeter threw away a ball while Mark Teixeira and J.J. Hardy let ground balls get through their legs in last night’s game, but it’s not just that. Routine plays are being botched all around the postseason — pop-ups are falling in, pitchers are throwing away bunts, all that stuff. Basic plays you practice on the first day of Spring Training. It’s just unbelievable to watch all these easy routine plays turn into game-changing mistakes. The World Series is going to come down to whoever turns the most routine plays into outs, I guess.

5. The Yankees have to do a better job against the Orioles’ left-handed hitters, specifically Nate McLouth and Chris Davis. Those two are a combined 6-for-16 (.375) in the series with a two-run single in each game so far, and that’s against New York’s top two left-handed starters in CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte. They’ve kept Adam Jones and Matt Wieters in check while keeping Mark Reynolds in the park, so those guy aren’t killing them. McLouth, who was on the verge of playing in an independent league a few months, and Davis are. Those two are going to bat first and third in every game of the series forward and the Yankees have to do a better job of keeping them off base and more importantly, doing damage when there are runners on base.

6. Total homers hit in the postseason so far: ten in ten games (counting the two wildcard play-in games), so one per game. All of those have come against the supposed numbers one and two starters of team, right? No one started their number four or five guy out of necessity. Even when Johnny Cueto got hurt in the first inning of Game One, Mat Latos come in to pitch in long relief. The MLB average this year was 0.94 homers per game. Runs per game in general are down — 8.57 runs per game in the regular season to 7.25 in the playoffs — and you know why that it is? Because stringing together a rally with multiple hits against top pitchers is much harder than hitting homers off them. Good pitchers make fewer mistakes, and when you get a mistake you have to make it count. I will fight the ridiculous “you can’t hit homers off good pitching in the playoffs” narrative ’til the death, right after I finish watching this Edgar Renteria highlight.

Other than a World Series winning hit in extra innings of Game 7 and two other Worls Series game winning home runs.

(I assume you were kidding!)

MannyGeee

-signed, Red Sox Nation

DJ4K&Monterowasdinero

When you can run it is easier to score on 2 hits rather than 3-in so many ways. HR’s are also less common in the post season-at least for us.

I know you can’t steal 1B but guys like Ichiro, Nunez and Gardner can score in so many more ways in the post season.

Eddard

1. That’s Bud for you. And the 2nd wildcard was a dud. It was on a Friday night and nobody knew what channel it was on. Poorly marketed, poorly executed. Bud Selig, Ladies and Gentlemen.

2. I was surprised they kept Andy in so long but he gave us a chance to win and the offense didn’t come through. It won’t matter how rested that pen is if the offense can only score 2 runs.

3. That doesn’t surprise me with a boom or bust offense.

4. It was a comedy of errors last night, making Andy’s performance all the more impressive.

5. Yankee pitchers aren’t the problem here, Yankee hitters are. Why not a post about how Alex, Swisher and Granderson have to do a better job hitting the ball?

6. And Yankee hitters aren’t taking advantage of mistakes. Chen was throwing a 92 mph fastball no more no less. Hopefully Yankee Stadium will liven up the bats.

thenamestsam

Every offense is boom or bust. They have 9 runs in two games. One more run and they would have been above their regular season production. If the offense keeps that up we have a damn good shot at winning a world series.

Eddard

And if they score 12 runs Wednesday, 1 Thursday, 2 Friday they will average 5 runs a game but likely lose the series. The postseason is all about starting pitching and clutch hitting. Thus far, we’ve got the first part but only one inning of the second. And with lesser pitchers going in Games 3 and 4 the clutch hitting will have to pick up.

Robinson Tilapia

Not surprising to hear you sour on the team after you claiming it was so not a big deal to split in Baltimore last night. No, not at all.

#killfile

gc

He also said Chen would wilt under the pressure. I guess this makes Chen a “big game pitcher” in EddardWorld. Or does that only count for rookie pitchers like David Phelps?

http://www.twitter.com/_swarlesbarkley Drew

This isn’t a reaction to the last few games but I am hoping that Girardi really considers moving Alex down in the batting order. Having your best batter bat (Cano) as many times as possible (a lot of times with runners on base) is a good way to win a baseball game. I am not saying to Joe Torre Alex and bat him 8th but it has been clear the almost everyone that his power just isn’t there. Sure he is getting on base still but that is not what you need out of your 3 hitter. It might be an ego or a clubhouse issue, but what matters now is winning games. IMO while batting order does not matter a whole lot over the course of the regular season, it matters a lot in the postseason where every little move is magnified, and when the Yankees absolutely need to win games.

Sam P.

Tex has made contact in his ABs so far. I think getting someone who’s making contact in front of Cano would be a good move and provide opportunity to move runners up for Cano coming to bat.

Issue there becomes having ARod, Swisher and Granderson all in a row … who all have been looking a bit lost at the moment.

Hoss

May I be so bold as to suggest starting Chavez in place of Alex? He looks slow and lost. There is no point burying him in the 6th or 8th spot if he is just going to K.
Joe said that he squared up two pitches last night: An infield liner that turned into a DP and a single. If that’s what Alex squaring up a pitch gets us, Chavez is looking pretty good to me.

Frank

Surprised not much, if anything, was said of the the O’s tack on run last night and whether Cano should have dove for Reynolds’ grounder. I thought he should have- it definitely keeps Weiters at third and perhaps, Cano gets Reynolds who is not a speed merchant. May not have made a difference, but the way the rest of the inning played out (Thome K and Machado DP)it may have.

DJ4K&Monterowasdinero

Cano lacks grit. He has talent and style but no grit and very rarely is his uniform dirtied up. I’ll still take him over Peedy any day though.

So frustrating to have guys like Swish and Tex clogging up the base paths-unable to score.

We have run/not run ourselves out of several runs in 2 games.

Frank

The difference is Pedroia dives for tha ball last night. I just find it odd last month the same exact thing happened, the difference being the winning run scored, and averybody is up in arms. This time, not a peep. I thought it was a huge play (or lack of play).

Robinson Tilapia

Pedroia doesn’t dive for the ball last night because his team is in last place and he’s sitting at home.

MannyGeee

Pedroia dives for the ball, but he starting off 6 inches shorter than Cano (on a good day) he does not get there and just gets dirty.

Also, that ball was moving fast enough that regardless of dive or no dive, i dont think he gets the jump on it.

but, hey… the narrative.

CP

very rarely is his uniform dirtied up.

Who cares?

Also, I’ve been reliably told that diving slows you down so it’s better to just keep running.

JohnnyC

Yeah, when did Carl Lewis ever dive across the finish line to knock a ground ball down?

Neil

I know it’s blasphemy to knock Jeter but he did not dive for a ball in the hole and a run didn’t score only because of poor base running by JJ Hardy and a good deke by ARod.

JohnnyC

So Jeter is to blame. Cano just following the Captain’s bad example. It’s all so obvious. Is Jeter also responsible for Shwisher’s 1-33 w/ RISP and ARod’s 1-16 w/ RISP? After all, he grounded out with the bases loaded, didn’t he?

jjsabe

Yes he grounded out with the bases loaded didnt get on base for cano in the 9th(which is a crime for arod). Played bad d for two games, and hasnt really been hammering the ball. In matter of fact im pretty sure arod lined out dp was harder than anything jeter has hit this series.

Robinson Tilapia

Frank works for the team dry cleaner, obviously.

Kingslayer

I am glad you brought Cano’s not diving for Reynolds’ ball up becuase no one elase has. I think if he would have dove and stopped that ball you save a run – but God forbid that Cano should dive and hurt his chest!

Eddard

And Girardi has to send Gardner in there to pinch run for Teixera late in ballgames. He’s just too hobbled. He turns doubles into singles and can only go from 2nd to home if the ball is hit out of the park.

JohnnyC

Girardi wanted to keep his bat in the line-up for the inevitable 5 run implosion from Jim Johnson, doncha know.

Mike

Oh that darn binder. I have NO clue why he did not pinch run for Tex. My only guess is that he didn’t want to lose his bat, but that should not be on the managers mind. What should be on his mind is tying the game.

Pinch run Tex, steal Gardner, and see how it goes from there.

I also do not understand why he pinch ran for Ibanez at 3B in Game 1 but not when he was on 1B.

JohnnyC

Actually, Girardi was asked. His answer was that he didn’t think Gardner could steal off Matusz so he wanted to save him for a later opportunity. Like having someone on base who could actually score on something other than a home run wasn’t that important down 1 run in the 8th inning. Unbelievable.

Mike

Not many more opportunities are going to come when you’re in the 8th inning against a team with a great bullpen (and surely enough as even Mike pointed out in this article, Tex was the last base runner of the game for the Yankees)

Neil

So putting a speedy runner on first does not put pressure on the pitcher to throw over, throw more fastballs, balk or have the runner able to reach second on a wild pitch that does not go that far away from the catcher, score on a double, etc. The binder doesn’t have a section on those types of things?

https://twitter.com/KramerIndustry Kramerica Industries

I think the fact that Nate McLouth and Chris Davis have done the lions share of the damage for the Orioles, against two LHP, is far and away the most frustrating development so far in this series.

It’s one thing to get beat by Adam Jones or Matt Wieters against LHP. Getting beat by two lefties just sucks. Those are supposed to be the neutralized bats, and they have not been.

MannyGeee

and to boot, they’ve been doing the damage in early & middle innings against LHP, so you cant even go with the LOOGYFail…

JohnnyC

Yankees getting real good at hat tipping. Everyone eligible for a post-graduate degree in it.

Rich in NJ

Hal should make it a finable offense for any player to utter those words.

JohnnyC

No, that would be a gesture toward accountability. Didn’t you hear Hal last week? No one’s jobs are in danger. No sir, nothing happening here. Just keep moving.

DC

Typical JohnnyC angst.

thenamestsam

So the other team should never get credit. You know that being in the playoffs means you play other playoff teams right? You’re not going to win every game against those teams. You’re just not. It doesn’t always have to be someone’s fault when you don’t win.

DF

Amen. Your post should be on the banner at the top of this website.

Kingslayer

Its time to realize that Arod will never be a big time contributor for the Yanks again. He had a good (not great)2009 playoff, but the Yankees have won 1 world series since he has been on the team. The Yankees could have done that with a piece of plywood playing third!! What a waste.

Rich in NJ

At this point, what A-Rod will do in the future is irrelevant. The only thing to consider is whether or not a seemingly hot Tex should be moved up.

If you think one player’s presence wins of loses WS, you need to rethink.

btw, He was truly great in the 2009 playoffs.

MannyGeee

“seemingly hot Tex”…. funny to hear that after he was lamb-basted by the bridge-jumpers for not going 8-9 in the final series against the Red Sox.

jesse

How the hell was 2009 not a great playoff run by A-Rod? He hit .365/.500/.808 with 6 homers and 18 RBI that postseason with numerous big hits.

stuart a

that was a lifetime ago..

past history.

arod stinks now move him down in the order 5th, 6th, or 7th.. for the betterment of the team..

Jim Is Bored

…parade…arod…terrible…arod…parade…

MannyGeee

it was a lifetime ago, but he was awesome in 2009.

#ThankyouKateHudson

Frank

You guys need to stop with A-rod was great in 2009. That was 3 years ago- that’s a lifetime for a professional athlete. I’m not blaming him for losing or saying he sucks- it’s very hard to do what he does, but the reality is he just isn’t the same player. End of story. But please stop with the “he had great 2009.” He did. No one disputes that.

jjyank

From above: “He had a good (not great)2009 playoff”

That’s the point we’re disputing. Nobody said he’s the same player he was then. Just correcting the factually inaccurate statement that A-Rod did not have a great 2009 playoff run.

MannyGeee

Welcome to RAB Comments. History only doesn’t count when it disproves your point.

jesse

But Kingslayer just did, though. He said A-Rod had a “good (not great) 2009.” If that’s not disputing it I don’t know what is.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

When you make a statement like “He had a good (not great)2009 playoff,” it just ruins any credibility you had and makes people tune out the rest of your comment. There’s no need to exaggerate.

jjyank

2009 was great (as noted by jesse above me). Did you watch it at all?

A-Rod is a very small piece of the pie of reasons the Yanks only one once since he’s been here. Mussina never won a ring with us, what a waste, right? Should have saved the money and used plywood.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

“He had a good (not great)2009 playoff”

lol wut

.365/.500/.808 with six homers and five doubles in 15 games

Mike

I posted this in the previous thread, but I’ll post it here again too

Against RHP this season

Chavez – .298/.365/.543
A-Rod – .256/.326/.391

I’ll bring it up anyway even though it’s an extremely SSS, Chavez is 3-6 off Gonzalez with a HR. A-Rod does not have an AB against him.

Is there anything wrong whatsoever with benching A-Rod for a game and letting the actual Better hitter of the 2 this year getting more AB’s? I don’t care about how much $ he makes. Jason Giambi made $18-$20 million a year and was left off the entire postseason roster in 2004 and was limited to being a pinch hitter in 2007.

Start Chavez and Bench A-Rod, if not move him down way in the order.

And if any of you are worried about a media storm, who cares? There’s a media storm already for letting A-Rod to continue to bat 3rd.

Girardi always goes by the binder and the numbers. If the numbers say Chavez is better, then why not play him over A-Rod?

Kingslayer

Not a bad idea!!

Hoss

Agreed!

dp

But Girardi BELIEVES that they’re going…!

stuart a

they will never do it even if it is a good idea…

arod monopolizes everything mainly because of his insane salary….

the guy is toast…

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Chavez hit .221/.315/.364 the last month and a half of the season.

Andruw’s Smile

Stop with your facts. I heard there’s a loophole that specifically allows the Yankees to bring back Cody Ransom, they should look into that.

Mike

In September and Oct 1-3

Chavez – .222/.345/.467
A-Rod – .261/.341/.369

A-Rod had a better batting average but Chavez still had an edge in OBP and a slugging percentage nearly 100 points higher

A-Rod has been nothing but a singles hitter now with an occasional HR here and there. His power is all but gone.

CountryClub

IF the Yanks lose tomorrow, Hughes will have to pitch a do or die game if they’re going to win the series (in either gm 4 or 5). I like Hughes, but even I don’t want to see that happen. Hopefully Kuroda has his good stuff and the Yanks stop striking out vs Gonzalez (17 Ks in 13 innings).

http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger

Not that it’s ideal, but they got by with AJ in the same situation last year.

ANSKY

If we can bat Grandy (42HRS!) lower in the order, then why can’t we bat Arod (1-9) lower in the order? I’m tired of the “affect on his psyche” meme. I mean, if he gets pissed that the lowered him in the lineup, what’s he going to do? Is he going to swing the bat any worse than he’s swinging right now? I’m a big fan of Arod but he looks both lost and exposed right now.

DJ4K&Monterowasdinero

Because Grandy is a man and Alex is a diva/prima donna/head case?

DF

Really? Since we’re doing the tough guy thing here, I’d like to see you tell that to A-Rod in person. You know, 6’3″ 225-lb Alex Rodriguez.

A-Rod’s never said a thing about moving him down in the lineup. Posada was clearly a “man’s man,” whatever the hell that means, and he threw a hissy fit when he got taken out of the lineup.

So #1, these are people, and they may very well have emotional reactions to things. I’m not even saying A-Rod would, I think he would be fine, but if he were to be upset about such a demotion, it would be a perfectly human reaction.

And #2, people, athletes included, fail (and succeed!) for lots of reasons that have nothing to do with the morality tale you’re peddling here. Sporting prowess is not a moral issue.

/rant

jjyank

This. I love the fans that jump into the arm chair and evaluate the mental state of people they’ve never met.

Dino

How about Curtis Granderson and his horrible outfield play. Letting two bloopers drop in front of him because he gets horrible jumps on flyballs. He initially goes back on the Andino broken bat dunker allowing it to fall in. Make a normal read that any average CF would make and ball is caught, inning over.

dp

Girardi believes he’s a good center fielder…do not mess with the Binder as he knows all.

stuart a

your just picking at straws now..

grandy is a avg fielder but had no chance on the bloops last night.

monday morning quartebacking in full force now..

they lost for the same reason they usually lose since they lead the league in baserunners, was RISP fail… Not a new concept…

TFish

actually, grandy is a below avg center fielder.

http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger

Can anyone else confirm that this is true? I recall thinking – bad jump, then – ah, he would’t have gotten there anyway. Was it close enough?

LiterallyFigurative

I’m not so worried about the RESULTS of A-Rod’s at bats. I pay more attention to the PROCESS of his at-bats. He can’t get around on the fastball, and it’s leading to weak contact. He’s either getting jammed or hitting it off the end of the bat.

I’m not ready to drop Alex in the order, but I can’t say I blame those who want to move him down and put Tex or Cano in the 3rd spot.

BTW, does Granderson have something against Left Field?

JohnnyC

He’s a Republican.

gc

I agree with Mike about the A-Rod when A-Rod is doing the A-Rod about the A-Rod, but only when A-Rod is A-Rodding his A-Rod with his typical A-Rod. If he could only A-Rod the A-Rod when A-Rod is A-Rodding Baltimore’s A-Rod from our own A-Rod. Then we can A-Rod in the Bronx A-Rod when we finally do the A-Rod with the only A-Rod we have, so that will help. A-Rod A-Rod A-Rod A-Rod A-Rod A-Rod A-Rod A-Rod.

jjyank

Hahaha, this sums up the thread nicely.

Robinson Tilapia

Thank you.

It scared the living balls out of me that, scrolling through this thread, stuart comes off as rational next to half these dimwits.

Rafael Charres

I’m of the opinion, that the commissioner,absolutely screwed this one up. He has been an obvious pro National league activist. He has been pushing for sub par teams all along, so they can make the play-offs. You’ll never create equity by changing or manipulating the schedule. You need a good fan base,good players in order to create the revenue needed to compete in market.

JohnnyC

The job of the commissioner is to re-distribute the revenue in MLB. Selig has been in his job for 20 years because he’s steadfastly, indefatigably, and relentlessly gone about doing this, often at the expense of the New York Yankees. It’s all about the benjamins.

http://www.twitter.com/vinnyscafuto Vinny S.

I believe Girardi when he said he didn’t think he could steal on Matusz and Weiters. And if he bunts with Russell, then he’s got Matusz against Granderson which could only really end one way. I figured that if Tex got to second, then he would have pinch-ran for him like he did when Ibanez got to third in Game 1. He was probably banking on Russell coming up with a hit against the leftie, and then playing it from there. He’s not going to say in the postgame presser that he has no faith in Granderson against the tough leftie. And I’m sure he would have rather had Tex’s glove at first in the bottom half of the inning.

That’s probably his rationalization, but Gardner should have been in there regardless. Take a chance at the steal, that would have been a serious momentum shift if it succeeded.

Neil

Sounds like Girardi was going with the fallacy of the predetermined outcome.

mick taylor

arod is old and broken down but trying swisher is young and healthy but is doing what he does every post season , chokes. he has a career 160 post season average. and that is not just a blip. he has a lot of at bats over many years. and he has never gotten a big hit in any playoff or world series game. may i point to game five against detroit, his entire 2009 playoffs and world series , etc. he should be benched with ibanez andgardner taking over. if not, he will be even worse over the remaining playoff games.and who cares about his feelings, he won’t be on the team next year because he is greedy like all these players are. in fact, i would drop a rod to the 5th spot and put ibanez in the 3 hole where he would get some good pitches to hit.

Andruw’s Smile

It is a blip though. It’s a random assortment of 15-30 ABs from different years in which he was a different player in every year. If you think Ibanez should be hitting in the 3 hole (Ibanez and his 300 OBP this year, and Ibanez who looked like a pumpkin for almost all of August-September), well, then that’s just interesting.

Andruw’s Smile

Hey guys, remember when Swisher got on base 3 times Sunday and saw like 25 pitches? Are we just gonna pick and choose what games in the playoffs we call “clutch” when it suits us? I’m pretty tired of Yankees fans who basically flat out root against Swisher/ARod/everyone not named Jeter.

JohnnyC

LOL.

thenamestsam

So much this. A lot of people have clearly crossed the line to the point where they’re rooting against those guys purely so it will justify their amazing prediction that they’re “chokers”. If you’re doing that you’re not a Yankees fan.

So far Swish had one very good game and one very bad game. That’s cause for benching?

JohnnyC

Can you provide us with all the rules that govern whether or not one is a Yankee fan? Just want o make sure I keep myself in line. Thanks.

Andruw’s Smile

Read through these comments. Tell me it doesn’t sound like people are actively rooting against certain players to verify their anger towards the person. ARod had a good, not great 2009 playoffs? Swisher isn’t clutch because of 100 ABs over more than 3 years? C’mon, I’d like to think the average Yankee, or baseball fan, is smarter than that.

JohnnyC

Not arguing with your opinion. You’re entitled to think what you think, like who you like, dislike who you dislike. All well and good. So do other people, whether you think they’re as smart as you or not. Just don’t assume you can be the arbiter of whether someone else is a fan according to your stipulations.

Andruw’s Smile

Never said whether they were fans or not. Just said I was sick of fans who root against certain players. Pretty clear distinction. There’s a difference between disliking a player and rooting against that player (for instance, I strongly dislike Chris Stewart because, well he stinks. But when he’s in the lineup I want him to go 4-4 with 3 HRs).

Sweet Dick Willie

So what are you rooting for in his 4th AB if he hits a HR in his 1st 3 ABs?

Neil

You mean the Jeter who didn’t dive for the ball in the hole and was bailed out by poor base running by Hardy and oh by the way an excellent deke by ARod?

JohnnyC

But it’s o.k. to root against Jeter. Gotcha. These rules are so confusing.

Andruw’s Smile

Yep, because that was me who said that. Moron.

JohnnyC

The concept of a thread eludes you, imbecile.

jjsabe

Same it’s really annoying and embarrassing. The same people probably think renteria and ecsktein are clutch… Swisher has had good series before, and did well for the first game.

Andruw’s Smile

And on the topic of lineup construction, I’d probably just flip-flop ARod and Cano, not much else. I actually like the way this lineup is constructed.

forensic

What was the average homers per game in the regular season for just these 10 teams, not including the dregs of the league? That’d be the better comparison.

http://www.twitter.com/vinnyscafuto Vinny S.

Tex missed some hangers in Game 1, but he’s been getting hits. If Girardi isn’t going to drop A-Rod, he should at least bat Tex fifth now.

Luisergi

” Good pitchers make fewer mistakes, and when you get a mistake you have to make it count. I will fight the ridiculous “you can’t hit homers off good pitching in the playoffs” narrative ’til the death”

Sure, but i’d be really, and pleasantly, surprised if Rodriguez or Swisher make a pitcher’s mistake count.

And if that is true how come many people here argues that Swish and A-Rod are beeing productive when they work walks?? Let me tell you something, they are not, they suck right now, there is no way anybody can say they don’t. A-Rod even looks incapable of hitting a freakin fly ball to right, let alone a home run. Yesterday it seemed like Rodriguez was playing pepper, just triyin’ to put some wood on the ball (wich he did actually, but it looks like he has become the most expensive singles hitter baseball will ever see). When he swings for the fences he misses.

I focused on A-Rod because, as it has been said, he is like the easiest target in history, Plus he hits 3rd, but the same can be said for Swish and many others.

There’s little reason to believe Rodriguez will not bat third in Game 3. But believe he’ll actually hit in that spot? Right now it’s hard to see it.

With this team’s “problems” hitting with RISP, a walk’s (or a single’s) worth right now is pretty damn low, and they (as in A-Rod, Swish ect.) will be productive for the Yankees WS aspirations as soon as they make a pitcher’s mistake count.

ItWasaThing

I’ve been a long time lurker, but have only just been driven to comment. This site, which generally is far superior than most baseball blogs has been absolutely unbearable the past few days. I could go into a long rant about why a good portion of you people are certifiable, however, I will refrain. The series is tied, we played a good game Sunday and a crappy one last night. Is A Rod disapointing? Of course. Should we start a lynch mob? Probably not yet.

jjyank

Welcome, and I agree. Losing sucks, but it’s going to happen. Move on and focus on what is now essentially a three game set at home. They’re still in a good position.

DF

Should we START a lynch mob?

The mob is already at the gates, my friend.

(Agree wholeheartedly with what you said, and like you am mostly a lurker driven to comment by the insanity caused by losing one game.)

ItWasaThing

I mean I get as frustrated as anybody during a game liek last night’s, but the reactions of some of these people make me questions the average human’s ability to reason. Cano and Swisher are major reasons why this team is in the playoffs and won just two days ago. Now Cano is lazy and Swisher is a bum?

Totally changing gears, has Granderson always been THIS susceptible to breaking balls out of the zone low and in? Or do I just seem to be noticing it more lately?

Robinson Tilapia

George Lynch actually started Lynch Mob after splitting from Dokken. You’re about 20 years late there.

Agree with the rest about the whining ninnies here.

MannyGeee

The better question is… should we start a PARADE mob?

craff

You are wrong about needing the 5th starter in the ALCS if the ALDS goes five games. CC would pitch Game 5 of the ALDS. ALCS would go Pettitte Game 1 Saturday, Kuroda Game 2 Sunday, Hughes Game 3 Tuesday, CC Game 4 on Wednesday on full rest.

craff

Only way a fifth starter is needed is if a starter comes in relief in Game 5 of the ALDS.

Nothing else that happened this season matters. It was all a mirage. The New York Yankees have only scored two runs this season. Derek Jeter’s fielding percentage is a -.234. Robinson Cano is lazy and spends his time making sure he can see his reflection in his uniform rather than playing the game, winning Gold Gloves, and finishing in the top five for MVP voting, which must be some other guy. The team stood in line, blew Bud Selig (actually, half of them, the other half stood in line behind Bud in order to give him a nut tickle simultaneously) and, between that and the new WC system, finished first despite scoring the said two runs all season. Oh, and god forbid the only starter to basically stay healthy all year in the rotation actually have to start a game in the series. We just can’t have that.

Did I get everything?

Luisergi

No, my case is pretty simple chief;

I don’t enjoy watching A-Rod, and Swisher looking like crap at the plate when october comes. They suck the big one in the playoffs–> Yankees don’t score many runs–> Yankees lose playoff game–> I do not enjoy it.

If i can not comment about that here, and i have to chat about cartoons, movies, T.V. shows, books or random crap, let me know, so i go elsewhere.

Best regards.

rek4gehrig

Grreat post. It’s unreal. All this whining and blaming nonsense. Yanks win as a team and lose as a team. They get that and so should we all.

Stevis

looks to me that they are all to blame except Andy

Neil

Andy is to blame for what exactly? Three runs in 7 innings in a playoff game? Sounds like a game Yankees should be winning!

Sweet Dick Willie

Andy actually blamed himself:

“Obviously the game came down to a mistake to Davis that scored the two runs,” Pettitte said. “Effectively a ball in the middle of the zone. That was a serious mistake by me in that situation. I pretty much cost us the game.”

Joey By The Book

Nunez doubled and Jeter drove him in. Chen was on the ropes. To me, it makes no sense whatsoever to have Ichiro sacrifice. Why?! To try to scratch across the tying run? Let the rally continue and go for the win. Instead Ichiro had 2 quick strikes and hit into a fielder’s choice. Joe has no instincts.

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The Gleyber Torres Watch

Gleyber's season is over. He suffered a torn left (non-throwing) elbow ligament on a play at the plate on June 17th and had Tommy John surgery on June 21st. He is expected to be ready in time for Spring Training 2018. The Prospect Watch Curse strikes again!